Domestic honeybees (Apis mellifera) can be a valuable tool for detection and monitoring of hazardous substances in the field. They have been used by our research group both to sample for toxic contaminants and actively search out explosive devices at the landscape level. Their usefulness in assessing the presence of hazardous chemicals that can enter the foodweb comes from the large numbers of workers who sample plant, soil, water and air matrices during their foraging trips. Their usefulness in finding explosives derives from their scent-based method of finding food resources. This seminar focuses mainly on the training and ability of the bees to locate hidden bombs and buried landmines. Bees are able to detect the TNT family of explosives at the parts per quadrillion level in real time. Training, done through feeders that contain a syrup reward for following the odor of the substance we wish to find, can usually be accomplished in less than two days. Lidar can follow the bees as they search for recurrences of the training odor. Video clips of a mine-locating testbed and a simulated security checkpoint will be shown.

When:           Thursday, 13 March 2014

Time:             15:00

Venue:          The Orbital – Chemistry Building, Room 3.1

Professor Garon C. Smith is from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana (USA).  He is currently on sabbatical: Visiting Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 

Contact person: Prof ER Rohwer (012) 420 2512 [email protected] or

                    Ms R Swart (012) 420 3772  [email protected]